Machine for cutting off the tops of beets and the like.



0. FRANKMAN.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING OFF THE TOPS 0F BEETS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MARTZI. 1916.

Patented Dec. 5. 1916.

knmly OLOF FRANKZMAN, 0F MARIEBERG, SWEDEN.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING OFF THE TOPS OF BEETS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 27, 1916.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Own FRANKMAN, a citizen of Sweden, and resident of Marieberg, Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting Off the Tops of Beets and the like; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The invention relates to an improvement in such machines for cutting off the tops and leaf-crowns of beets and the like which are provided with a horizontal knife supported by a knife holder that is vertically movable according to the different heights of the beets and suspended from a machine frame carried by wheels. This knife holder is usually also provided with a regulating member sliding or rolling over the beet row and being placed a certain distance above the knife in order to regulate the cutting depth. As it is quite a common thing that the leaf-crowns in different parts of the beet field are flourishing differently and varying in volume and height, it is evident that a greater part of the top will be out off on a beet having a smaller leaf-crown and viceversa on account of the vertical distance between the regulating member and the knife being constant. It also happens that the size of the leaf-crowns varies in the same row, especially when the beet rows run over a hilly ground or over fields with a varying soil.

The object of this invention is to arrange the knife in such a way that it is adjustable in a vertical direction in relation to the regulating member sliding on the leafcrowns even while the machine is running, in order to make it possible for the driver to alter the vertical distance between the knife and the sliding member or roller.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a front view of the de vice and Fig. 2 a plan view of the same.

The knife 1 is supported by the knife holder 2 which also carries the regulating member the latter being shown as a roller 3 running on top of the leaf-crowns and, pressing them down directly in front of the knife. The knife holder is freely movable in the vertical direction being pivotally connected with a suitable part of the machine frame by means of the parallel rods 4, 5. The vertical shank 6 of the knife is connected with a slide 7 movable in guides 8 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 19th.

Serial No. 87,083.

on top of the holder 2, this slide having a reciprocal transverse motion by means of a link bar 9, a bell cranklO and a connecting rod 11, this latter being driven from a suitable place on the machine.

According to the invention the guide body 12 is vertically movable in relation to the holder 2 by means of devices within reach of the driver. Thus the guide body 12 may be raised or lowered by means of a screw 13 journaled in the holder 2 and threaded in the guide piece. To guide the guide body when it is vertically moved by turning the screw two vertical pins 14 are arranged in the holder 2 in such a way that they go through corresponding holes in the guide body. The screw 13 is connected with operating means within reach of the driver by means of link bars and universal joints or by a flexible shaft, this being necessary as the holder 2 and the roller 8 continually move vertically in relation to the machine frame.

By turning the screw 13 the knife 1 can be raised or lowered in relation to the roller 8 according to the difierent nature of the leaf-crowns. The invention may also be applied to such machines in which the knife has no transverse movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a beet topping machine, the combination of a frame, a roller, a knife support, vertical guides for the knife support, means for vertically adjusting the knife support on the guides independently of the roller, a knife having a stem, said knife extending across the path of movement of the roller, a slide mounted on the knife support and to which the stem is attached, and means including a bell crank lever for reciprocating the slide to operate the knife across the path of movement of the roller.

2. In a beet topping machine, the combination of a frame, a cutting device, a regulating member in advance of the cutting device adapted to engage and spread the beet tops, a holder for supporting the cutting device and the regulating member, means for mounting the holder to permit same to be vertically moved in relation to the frame,

and means for raising and lowering the cutting device independently of the regulating member.

3. In a beet toppmg machine, the combinaport and extending across the path of move ment of the regulating member, means for vertically guiding the support, and a screw for vertically adjusting the support independently of the regulating member.

4. In a beet topping machine, the combination of a frame, a regulating member mounted in the frame, a support mounted on the frame, vertical guides between the frame and the support, a screw between the support and the frame to vertically adjust the support on the frame, a slide mounted on the support, a knife extending across the path of movement of the regulating member and provided with a vertical stem attached to the slide, and means for reciprocating the slide.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

OLOF FRANKMAN.

Witnesses H. BRAUZELL, FRED. HERON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

